Dear Jeanne - Samuel Paxton was born in Ireland in ca 1670. He arrived in Pennsylvania about 1730 with his family. As he was somewhat advanced in years at that time, he did not survive the rigors of pioneer life-his death occured about 1746, at his home on Marsh Creek, Adams Couty, Pa. His son John, born in Ireland about 1692, had married a Scotch-Irish lassie by the name of Elzabeth Alexander and they were the parents of five sons and a daughter. About 1741, John Paxton died and shortly thereafter his widow and fatherless children migrated up the Shenandoah Valley to avail themselves of the cheap land found in the Borden's Grant. One of the Paxton boys was named John. As he was born in 1716, he was now in his thirties and married-his wife, whom he married about 1742, was the daughter of Rev. Robert Blair. It is recorded that John Paxton, of Lancaster County, PA, was deeded 196 acres , three rods , and thirty-six poles on land on the Wood"s Creek, 10 July 1750. The property had been bought from Benjamin Borden, Sr. 27 July 1742, the same day that Joseph Lapsley bought the adjoining tract (August D. B. 2, 849) Kirkham seems to have veen a land-speculator and probably made a good profit on the deal. Hope this gives you alittle back-ground to research.